Ryan Blaney captured a dramatic win at Phoenix Raceway this Sunday, securing his fourth checkered flag of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series and marking another milestone in his storied career. With this Ryan Blaney Phoenix race victory, Team Penske notched their 107th Cup Series win with Ford, closing out the season on an electrifying high note.
Blaney’s Triumph Leads Ford’s Charge at Season Finale
Ryan Blaney drove Team Penske’s No. 12 car to triumph in the season-ending race in Arizona, making this his 17th career Cup Series win. Ford Racing celebrated its 748th Cup Series victory as Blaney showcased strong form all weekend, culminating in an intense finish amid fierce competition. Team Penske, bolstered by standout performances throughout, added to their legacy in NASCAR’s top tier with yet another win.
Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines, praised the team’s effort:
“Congratulations to Roger, Michael, Jonathan, Ryan, and everyone at Team Penske on the race win at Phoenix,”
said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines.
He continued,
“The Team Penske cars showed speed throughout the weekend and positioned themselves for the win during the final laps. Capping off the season with a win is good and we are already working on 2026 with Ford Racing!”
– Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines
Top Ford Drivers Command the Early Stages
Five Ford Racing drivers earned spots inside the top-10 starting order for the Phoenix finale. Team Penske had Austin Cindric in fourth, Ryan Blaney in fifth, with Wood Brothers Racing’s Josh Berry starting seventh, Chris Buescher representing RFK Racing in ninth, and Joey Logano for Team Penske lining up tenth. Early race segments set the stage for a tense battle, characterized by multiple lead changes and strategic jockeying among frontrunners such as Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and others.
Pivotal Moments and Race Dynamics
As the green flag waved, the first stage featured a tightly bunched field, with a late caution bunching up the leaders for a dash to the finish. By the end of Stage 1, Ryan Blaney held the second spot, supported by top-10 stage finishes from Austin Cindric, Joey Logano, and Chris Buescher. During Stage 2, the contest intensified with Blaney and Denny Hamlin trading the lead amid heavy lapped traffic, only for a later incident to bring out a caution and freeze the stage under yellow. The relentless battle set the tone for the dramatic finish to come.
Dramatic Finish and Overtime Excitement
As the final stage unfolded, scheduled for 134 laps, tension grew with every circuit at Phoenix Raceway. A late caution flagged with a handful of laps remaining sent teams scrambling for the right pit stop strategy and tire calls. On the all-important final restart, Ryan Blaney took advantage of fresh track position, overtaking Brad Keselowski in the closing laps. This move sealed the win, delivering an emotional victory in the season’s last showdown.
Blaney commented on the achievement,
“It’s just cool to end it on a good note. It’s just cool and obviously we had a fast car all day. Those other guys were just kind of faster getting going and I could never retain the lead. Those guys were just really good and it took my car a while to come in, but it was a really good call for two there and keeping track position. I got a decent restart and I was able to kind of roll the bottom in three and four and seek the 6 out at the line. I’m just really proud of the whole group and cool to end it in Victory Lane,”
– Ryan Blaney, Driver
Impressive Top-10 Finishes for Ford Teams
Ford’s day at Phoenix was further bolstered by five drivers finishing in the top ten: Ryan Blaney coming in first, RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski securing second, Joey Logano grabbing fourth, Wood Brothers Racing’s Josh Berry in seventh, and RFK Racing’s Ryan Preece earning ninth. Their strong showings reflected the depth of Ford’s competitive edge and teamwork at the Cup Series finale.
Elsewhere at the track, the NASCAR Xfinity Series also ran events at Phoenix, where Haas Factory Team’s Sheldon Creed landed an eighth-place finish, highlighting new talent rising through the ranks.
Looking Ahead to the Next NASCAR Season
With the checkered flag at Phoenix Raceway, the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season officially concluded. Drivers, crews, and fans now shift their focus towards the 2026 campaign, which will kick off in February at Daytona International Speedway. As Ford, Team Penske, and their rivals regroup, anticipation already builds for another fiercely competitive year.
